The London Cycling Campaign has launched a lobbying effort urging cyclists across Wandsworth to support the controversial Putney Bridge junction changes in a council survey, claiming the redesign has made cycling “much safer” – despite local cyclists reporting they feel less safe using the junction.
In their October newsletter, the Wandsworth Cycling Campaign – the local branch of the London Cycling Campaign – tells members that critics claim the junction changes “have made motor traffic congestion worse while doing nothing for cycling” before declaring: “This is not true!”
The campaign urges members: “Please fill in the Council’s survey and also let us know your experience of walking and cycling in the area,” providing a direct link to influence the consultation results.
This organised campaign contrasts starkly with feedback from actual Putney cyclists. The Putney Action Group’s comprehensive survey of 1,373 local residents found 86% opposed to the junction changes – and crucially, this included cyclists who use the junction daily.
Even cyclists, the very group the changes were meant to protect, report feeling unsafe, the PAG survey found, with multiple cyclists describing near-misses and increased danger at the redesigned junction.
Report going to Transport Committee
The timing of the cycling campaign’s intervention is significant. Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg announced last weekend that a report on the Putney junction, including survey results, will go to the Transport Committee in November for review.
But Putney.news can reveal that the chair of that committee, Councillor Jack Mayorcas, is himself a declared member of the London Cycling Campaign – the very organisation now actively trying to influence the survey outcome.
Councillor Annamarie Critchard, who also sits on the Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee, is similarly a declared member of the LCC, as is Councillor Sara Apps.
This raises serious questions about how impartially the survey results can be reviewed when committee members belong to an organisation actively campaigning on the issue.
The council’s survey has already faced criticism for its narrow focus on cyclists and pedestrians, rather than capturing the full impact on all road users. Critics argue this methodology could skew results by excluding drivers, bus passengers, and residents affected by displaced traffic and pollution.
Reliable survey results
The PAG survey painted a damning picture of the junction changes, with residents describing “daily gridlock,” “displaced traffic into side streets,” and situations where “emergency services are delayed.” The report states that “92% said walking is their primary mode of transport” – showing that Putney residents are already choosing sustainable transport, yet still oppose the changes.
The fact that cycling campaign members sit on the committee reviewing these changes adds another dimension to concerns about transport decision-making in Wandsworth. As chair of the Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Mayorcas is responsible for holding the council to account on transport decisions – yet belongs to an organisation that lobbies for specific transport outcomes.
The London Cycling Campaign’s intervention appears designed to counter overwhelming local opposition revealed in community surveys. By mobilising cyclists from across the borough – not just those who actually use the Putney junction – the campaign could potentially skew what should be resident feedback about a local issue.
In response to our queries about how she would balance the potential conflict of interest, Cllr Crichard told us: “As yet, haven’t seen any reports for the committee meeting on 20th November. When I receive the reports, I will review whether my membership of LCC is relevant to the decisions to be considered to determine whether a declaration is necessary.”
Wandsworth Council and Councillor Mayorcas were contacted for comment before publication.
Thanks for revealing this about the transport committee. As shown at the recent Putney meeting, the council do not care about other road users, and the fact that these Cllrs are LCC members prejudices the outcome for residents. Wandsworth Labour needs to be kicked into the long grass come the local elections next year.
So NOW I understand why the junction changes so heavily favour cyclists, even though the changes are inherently unsafe.
The cycle lanes and modified pedestrian crossings at the junction of Putney Bridge road, Lower Richmond road and Putney High Street are indisputably safer and therefore beneficial for pedestrians and cyclists to suggest otherwise is nonsense.
This article claims overwhelming support from Putney residents when approximately 1,300 people have responded to the various surveys as reported and promoted here, I stand to be corrected but I understand there are in excess of 50,000 people resident in East Putney. Hardly overwhelming.
Oh my goodness, the horror! A self-declared cyclist is the head of the Transport committee! What next, zoological will start working for the zoo??? This really is a ludicrous piece of blatant bias (how many members of the committee are members of the RAC or the AA? Do you not think it relevant that someone who understands the issue should be on the committee? Putney News gets more and more like the Sun, and pieces like this accelerate the change.
And David-Seán Robinson is right to point out that the survey by the Putney Inaction Group isnt representative of Putjry but of an entirely self-selected group.
Cllr Mayorcas lists two personal conflicts of interests on his official council page.
“(i) Member of the London Cycling Campaign, (ii) Member of the GMB Union.”
Conflicts of interest happen all the time. They are acknowledged and dealt with, typically by that person recusing themselves from any related discussion.